A bill that entails uniform annual premium rates and higher state subsidies for a community-based health insurance scheme was endorsed by the Council of Ministers last week and sent to parliament for approval. The universal insurance scheme was first introduced a decade ago.

Experts at the former Ethiopian Health Insurance Agency, now the Ethiopian Health Insurance Services (EHIS), have worked on the proclamation's amendment. Close to 20 consultative meetings were held before the bill was sent to the Council of Ministers in September 2020, disclosed Mohammed Yimere, head of the legal directorate at EHIS.

The scheme, developed to give access to healthcare for low-income segments of the population, covers 288,000 households in Addis Abeba, catering to 1.3 million residents primarily engaged in the informal sector. Close to 40 million rural residents and low-income urbanites across 770 weredas in the country are beneficiaries of the scheme. Last year, 2.2 billion Br in premiums were collected at the national level.

If passed, the amended proclamation will end the mandate of city and regional administrations to set and change premium rates under their respective jurisdictions. Rates vary with the highest premiums in urban areas, such as Dire Dawa set at 520 Br and a ceiling of 250 Br in rural areas.

The Addis Abeba City cabinet increased rates by 30pc to 500 Br a month ago. The scheme was launched in the capital in 2011 with 170 Br as the annual fee; however, the rates have increased twice since.

The bill proposes the establishment of national and regional pool funds comprising state subsidies and reserve funds equivalent to five percent of the total contributions made by beneficiaries. The establishment of the pool and reserve funds will allow service providers to continue if the money runs out, says Addisu Abebaw, director of a resource mobilisation, administration and partnership at the health bureau of the Amhara Regional State.